Next KTM is fully-faired Duke 390

KTM CEO Stefan Pierer has confirmed that fully-faired and touring versions of the Duke 390 is being developed with Bajaj. The fully-faired variant will be the next launch, and we expect it in the first quarter of 2013. 

India’s love for fully-faired motorcycles has caught KTM’s attention and that is why the development the brand’s second fully-faired sportsbike has commenced. We expect the motorcycle to be called either the 390R, or more likely the RC4 or RC390 in line with the RC8’s naming convention. 

“For India, I can expect 180cc, 190cc and not a 125cc. We expect additional displacements, the 390cc is coming which is a full faired version and the so called touring purpose version. By the end, we have a full model range where we can settle in all these and especially the Asian markets.” said KTM CEO Stefan Pierer. 

The company plans to launch a new motorcycle every six months. The touring version of the 390 Duke is also being developed along with the faired one – we don’t have high hopes of it being launched in India, but since it is going to be manufactured in Bajaj’s Chakan facility, the company might just open up yet another segment in the Indian marketplace. Our fingers are crossed – a 390 Adventure would be ideal on so many levels for Indian conditions, especially for the rider who likes to go on long rides, especially off the beaten path. The company is also planning to launch a 180cc-190cc motorcycle which we had reported two days ago.

Currently the only full faired motorcycles in KTM’s portfolio are 1190 RC8 and 1190 RC8 R Track. The addition of the first small-displacement sportbike from the manufacturer shows current global trends – the developing markets are increasing displacement towards 500cc, while the developed ones are shrinking engine size to 500cc. Happily, this means more exciting machinery in India’s future thanks to economies of scale.